I Am The Door Or The Gate! Series

“I am the gate or door!”

“I Am” - series - pt 4

Thesis: Jesus is the door or the gate to heaven. It is only through Him that we are able to find eternal life and a relationship with Abba Father. There is no other gateway into eternity than this doorway.

Introduction:

The visual -- A door on the stage to make the point!

As most of you know I was a carpenter before I was a Pastor so I have hung and installed a lot of doors in houses, in offices, and many other places.

Doors are a good thing to have on your building.

Many of us also have gates on our back yard fences as well. A lot of buildings place gates around its boundaries for specific reasons.

These doors and gates have two primary purposes:

1. To let people in or out.

2. To keep people and unwanted things out.

Illustration: TV Show “Let’s Make a Deal.” With Monty Hall - You get to choose from 3 doors:

Door #1 – Religion “You do it!”

Door #2 – Idol worship – like Materialism “You deserve it and it will make you happy”

Door #3 – Jesus “He does it.”

Opening video Illustration transition from worship: Wingclips.com Narnia movie clip “The Wardrobe.”

The following from Wingclips.com:

Some journeys take us far from home. Some adventures lead us to our destiny.

Based on the beloved classic novel by ‘CS Lewis’, Four London children are sent to a professor’s country home in order for protection during World War II. There they find a magic wardrobe that leads to a mystical land called Narnia, which is being ruled by an evil witch. To defeat the witch, they must join forces with Aslan, the lion God of Narnia. He is a type of Christ and to get from this world to the next they must enter the door of the wardrobe. This is the only gateway to the other world. No other path leads to Narnia only this door.

Scene Setup: The Germans have begun their blitzkrieg of London. In order to keep

them safe, parents all over the city are sending their children to stay with friends and

relatives in rural areas of the country. Four siblings are sent to a great old mansion

where only an aged professor and his uptight housekeeper live peacefully tucked

away. The children, growing bored of sitting quietly, decide to play a game of hide

and seek. Lucy, the youngest, opens a door that hasn't been opened in a long time.

Application: As the story unfolds we learn about a prophecy...that once Aslan is on

the move again, four human children will come to Narnia and help set the nation free

from evil. Yet, at the beginning of the story, it's hard to see God at work…. It seems

that a little child has simply found a good hiding place. Nevertheless, in hindsight, we

can see God directing the children to choose a game where she would be forced to go

into strange places; then, gently prompt her to open the door; then, help her risk

taking off the wardrobe cover; and finally, give her the courage to step into a place

that she would never have discovered otherwise…. So subtle, yet certainly something a great God could arrange.

Scripture Text:

John 10: 1-10 (NIV)

The Shepherd and His Flock

1“I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber.

2The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep.

3The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

4When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.

5But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a strangers voice.”

6Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.

7Therefore Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep.

8All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.

9I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.

10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

John 10:1-10 (NASB)

Parable of the Good Shepherd

1“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber.